Top 5 Foods to Eat Before Your Period to Beat PMS

Periods. Most of us have a love/hate relationship with that time of the month. On one hand, yay! Our body is doing its healthy, natural thing. On the other hand, PMS bloating, cramping, exhaustion, mood swings. Stuff we can all do without in our busy schedules for conquering the world. Well fear no more, warrior queens. The truth is that most PMS symptoms can be avoided by just eating the right food. Here’s a list of the top five foods to eat before your period to beat PMS.

#1 Yogurt

One cup of yogurt can help you get up to one-fourth of your recommended daily intake of calcium. Plus, it’s yummy!

According to this scientific study on PMS, having healthy levels of calcium and vitamin D has been shown to reduce PMS symptoms. In fact, having a calcium and vitamin D-rich diet can help lower your chances of PMS by as much as 40 percent.

#2 Salmon

If you ever need period cramp relief, try some salmon. It’s one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which help your muscles relax. It’s also one of the best foods to get vitamin D and B6. Both can help you get rid of PMS symptoms like mood swings, tender boobs, and bloating.

If you’re vegetarian or vegan, no worries! You can also get omega-3 fatty acids from pumpkin, avocados, and walnuts, among other things.

#3 Leafy Greens

Even though they get a bad rap for being diet food, salads are both healthy and delicious. Not only that, they help fight PMS!

Kale, spinach, Swiss chard – if it’s green and leafy, eat it. The magnesium and calcium in leafy greens helps regulate your hormones, and the soluble fiber can help flush any extra estrogen out of your system.

#4 Whole Grains

Before your period is the time to switch out your white bread and donuts for healthy staples like buckwheat or quinoa. They are rich in vitamin B, which can help reduce mood swings, since vitamin B helps your brain make serotonin, the happy hormone. Like leafy greens, whole grains are also high in soluble fiber.

#5 Bananas

Is period bloating ruining your party plans? If so, have a banana. The potassium and magnesium can help you lose the bloat, and the B6 in bananas helps boost your mood for an even better time.

Also, if you get really bad cramps, it’s good to know that having a healthy level of potassium in your body also helps prevent muscle cramps. Just don’t have too much. An overdose leads to the opposite effect.

Now that we know what we should eat, the question is what should we avoid? If you’re one of those people that tend to feel bloated and tender, limiting your salt intake can help. Skipping the beer and coffee for a while can also help reduce PMS symptoms, which are made worse by lack of sleep. But otherwise, happy period-ing ☺ and let us know any thoughts or experiences in the comments down below.